Was the B-47 ever used in combat?
The B-47 was in service as a strategic bomber until 1965, at which point it had largely been supplanted by more capable aircraft, such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. While never seeing combat as a bomber, reconnaissance RB-47s would occasionally come under fire near or within Soviet air space.
Are any b47s still flying?
The Boeing B-47 Stratojet is an American jet-engine Strategic Bomber used by the United States Air Force from 1951 until 1977. Of the 2,032 aircraft built, 23 survive today, none of which is airworthy. All are located in the United States.
How many crew members are there in AB 47?
3 crew
Technical Specifications
| First flight | Dec. 17, 1947 (prototype XB-47) |
|---|---|
| Combat radius | 2,358 miles |
| Power | Six 7,200-pound-thrust GE J-47-GE-25 turbojet engines |
| Accommodation | 3 crew |
| Armament | Two 20 mm cannons, 25,000 pounds of bombs |
Who made the B-47?
Boeing
Boeing B-47 Stratojet/Manufacturers
What replaced the B-47?
B-58
The B-58, planned as a replacement for the B-47, started entering the inventory in 1960. Also, the B-52, designed as an outgrowth of the B-47, was proving to be a very capable strategic bomber.
How many engines did the B-47 have?
six jet
The B-47 was the first pure jet strategic bomber whose many unique features included six jet engines; a two-engine, pylon-mounted pod under each wing near the fuselage; and a single-engine pod further outboard. The wings were attached high on the fuselage and swept 35.
What is the oldest 747 still flying?
about 42.89 years old
The oldest active passenger configured Boeing 747 that is still flying today is about 42.89 years old as the delivery was taken on November 9th, 1977 by the Saudi Arabian Royal Flight. Since its first commercial flight in 1970, Boeing 747 has changed the nature of long-haul air travel.
Why is 747 being retired?
The steep drop in travel caused some airlines to move up retirement dates for aging aircraft. Older aircraft are on the chopping block as airlines turn to newer ones like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB. The Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 are quickly vanishing due to their size and cost to operate.
When did the B-47 enter service?
1951
From 1951, the year the B-47 arrived in the force, to 1957, SAC expanded from 144,525 personnel to 224,014. It grew from 12 to 1,285 B-47s and from one B-47 medium bomb wing to 28—each with 45 aircraft. Boeing, Lockheed, and Douglas all built B-47s to meet the delivery schedule.
When did the B-47 come out?
June 1951
Boeing B-47 Stratojet/Introduced
How much is a scrap 747 worth?
Once a jet has been stripped bare of usable parts, its metal frame is redeemed for scrap value. A 747 can fetch up to $55,000 for its scrap alone.
What is the oldest plane still flying?
Boeing 747
Why was the B-47 so important to the Air Force?
The B-47 needed defensive armament only in the rear because no fighter was fast enough to attack from any other angle. The B-47 medium bomber became the foundation of the Air Force’s newly created Strategic Air Command, and many were adapted for several specialized functions.
What kind of cameras did the B-47 carry?
During refueling, the B-47 flew just above stall speed while the KC-97 flew at full throttle. (U.S. Air Force photo) The RB-47E carried one forward-looking camera in the nose and up to six cameras in the modified bomb bay, plus photoflash bombs for night photography and a defensive 20mm cannon in the tail.
What was the defensive gun on the B-52?
The B-52A was the first to be fitted with defensive armament – the A-3A Defensive Fire Control System (DFCS) was operated by a tail gunner, seated in the rear of the plane underneath a transparent canopy. The system utilized a battery of four .50 caliber M3 machine guns in a turret in the extreme tail. Each gun had 600 rounds of ammunition.
What was the crew size of a B-47?
In addition to its high speed and sleek configuration, the B-47 was highly automated. This permitted a reduction in crew from 11 men in a B-50 (of roughly the same gross weight) to only three men, and the deletion of all gun armament except for a remotely controlled tail turret.
